Many Nigerians have expressed shock over the mode of payment of N585.18m grant for vulnerable groups in four states, wondering why the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation would pay such a huge fund into the account of a single individual.
The worried Nigerians described the action as “suspicious” and “fraudulent.”
The criticism and controversy started on Friday, January 5, evening after a document on the payment of the grant, which was signed by the Minister in charge of the ministry, Betta Edu, went viral on social media.
The viral document revealed that the payment of the N585.18m grant, meant for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun and Lagos states, was made into Bridget Oniyelu’s account, a private account.
But reacting, the Ministry said the N585.18m grant for vulnerable groups was approved and followed the stipulated due process of government.
It also stated that the payment of the grant to the account of an individual, Oniyelu Bridget, was because she currently serves as the Project Accountant, Grants for Vulnerable Groups.
The Daily Crucible reports that the National Social Investment Programme Agency, an organisation also under the humanitarian ministry, was embroiled in financial scandals recently, which involved senior officials of the NSIPA.
The scandal, for example, led to the suspension of the NSIPA’s ex-National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer, Halima Shehu, by President Bola Tinubu following an allegation of financial impropriety and the crisis rocking the agency.
However, in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday as regards the N585m grant, the humanitarian ministry said, “For the avoidance, the said N585m was approved, and it is meant for the implementation of grants to vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun and Lagos states.
“We must, however, note that GVG was first launched in the Kogi State where recipients testified. Akwa Ibom and Cross River were launched in December 2023. Kogi already happened in November, and others will be launched in the coming weeks.
“The general public is invited to note that the Renewed Hope Grant for Vulnerable Groups is one of the social intervention schemes of the Federal Government, which is being implemented by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
“Oniyelu Bridget is the Project Accountant for GVG from the Department of Finance and it is legal in civil service for a staff, the project accountant to be paid and use the same funds legally and retire the same with all receipts and evidence after the project or programme is completed.”
The ministry went ahead to state that the leaked document was its memo to the Accountant-General of the Federation, seeking approval for the N585m payment
